Oil burner



Oct. 5, 1948. D. c. BREAULT OIL BURNER Filed July 13, 1943 l'nzntof petphis CBreaufZ.

444m Mfg known, the more finely the less the carbon residuum and by test, this as shown,

Patented Oct. 5, 1948 2,450,418 OIL BURNER,

Delphis C. Breault, Lowell, Mass.

Application July 13,

9 Claims.

This application refers to method and apparatus for the extremely economical burning of liquid fuel by complete atomization of the fuel which is burned in colloidal form.

Objects of the invention include the provision of method and means for directing a blast of air substantially opposite to an oncoming stream of liquid fuel in a closed chamber so that the air and fuel impinge with force and form an air borne fuel fog in which the fuel is finely divided to a degree never before obtained. As is well divided the liquid fuel,

method and apparatus produces a totally carbonless flame.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a form of burner embodying my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of a part thereof.

The oil burner comprises a housing 42 provided with an air intake duct M for receiving air from pipes 35 and 40, and an oil line pipe 36. A generally central bore in the housing receives a threaded bushing 38 having a forward cupshaped projection 50 extending radially outwardly of the bore and bushing. The latter is held to the housing by a threaded nut 52 and has a passage 55 for admitting oil from pipe 35 to a central core 56 comprising a reservoir. An orifice 58 connects the reservoir with the outside of projection 50, this being the sole egress for the oil.

A stem 60 is threadedly adjustably mounted in the bushing 48 as in the reservoir, a handle 62 being used to adjust the stem to open or close valve 65 to vary the amount of fuel flow. A cap 56 secures the stem.

At the nozzle end of housing 42 there is an enlarged partially threaded open-ing to receiving a circular element 10. When the latter is seated an air chamber surrounding cupproduced, this chamber communicating with air duct 46. A circular row of passages 12 lead from the air chamber into a smaller chamber 14 in the element 10, the chamber 14 being sealed by means of a plug or the like at 16, so that air under pressure will enter duct 44, pass into the air chamber formed by opening shaped projection 50 is 1943, Serial No. 494,484

68 and element Iii, and pass into chamber 14 completely in sealed off relation as regards the oil flow so far described.

A wall 18 is provided separating chamber 16 from the projection 50, and this w ii is cupshaped reversely to the projection 5 the two dished or concave members 50 and 18 constituting a spray head enclosing what is termed the mixing chamber at. The peripheral edges of the cups are so formed as to closely abut and seal ofi the mixing chamber except for oil pass-age including a central passage 82' and diverging outer passages 58 and a series of air passages 82 leading from chamber l4, and it will be clear that the streams of oil and air are directed from opposite walls into the mixing chamber and portions of said streams impinge substantially head-on, so that a fog of air-borne oil is produced due to the forces derived from the pressures thereof.

A peripheral row of passages 86 extend in alternate arrangement through wall it leading the oil i'og forwardly into a conical shell 85 where cornbustion starts. Passages 8i serve to further atomize the oil and provide for spraying it completely around the interior of the shell.

A mutilated gear 88 is journalled on a P rt of the element W and this gear extends radially far enough to cover the exit ends of passages 86. The gear however has a series of holes 9B which form continuations of passages 86 in one position of gear 88, but upon a slight rotative movement of the latter the passages 85 may be effectively lessened in area and finally closed. A pinion 92 operates the gear, and a shaft 95 may be used to rotate the pinion. Both shaft 95 and stem 60 extend rearwardly so as to be manually manipulatable at the rear of the housing i6. Shaft i241 may be appropriately geared to the handle 62 of stem ltd so that the oil flow is automatically regulated in accordance with the gear adjustment.

Shell as is provided with a plurality of apertures 96 which are made at an incline to its central axis so that secondary air is injected in a turbulating swirl, and this is a third atomization process for the oil. Shell 85 is screw threaded at 98 to the element iii and provides means at Hill to hold gear 88 in position.

Gear 88 is provided with a series of outer holes I02 which communicate with holes I04 in the base a the shell to .verting the liquid into provide additional secondary air injection.

A second smaller shell I08, also having inclined holes III, is provided to eliminate vacuum in shell 80, and also to form an annular conical oil fog passage. By actual test air and gas will enter shell I" in the direction of arrow H and pass through the holes I! into the space between the shells, but shell I08 tends to break up the vacuum otherwise present. However, in small installations the center element I08 can be done away with by placing the exit holes closer together to produce a smaller but vacuumless spray. Further shells may be applied according to flame desired.

From the above disclosure it will be seen that I provide an apparatus and method for actually atomizing liquid fuel by creating a pressure air stream coacting against an oil stream also under pressure as by conventional pump means. An air-borne fog of di] is produced which is sprayed through a plurality of nozzles 84 and is then turbulated, both of the latter actions further atomizing the oil, so the maximum of oil dispersion and breaking down is obtained for carbonless burning. It is contemplated that the oil and air may not travel rectilinearly oppositely, but substantially so, as at a slight angle.

Having thus described my invention and the advantages thereof, I do not wish to be limited to the details herein disclosed, otherwise than as set forth in the claims, but what I claim is:

l. A process of atomizing liquid fuel which comprises introducing a stream of liquid into a closed chamber, introducing into the chamber from the opposite direction a plurality of jets of gas arranged about a common axis coincident 'with the stream of liquid, and introducing a central jet of gas in direct opposition to the stream of liquid whereby the gas and liquid impinge and the liquid is atomized, and passing the atomized liquid from the chamber through the outer gas jets.

2. A process of atomizing liquid fuel which comprises introducing a stream of liquid into a closed chamberyintroducing from the opposite direction a plurality of streamsof gas arranged about a common axis coincident with the stream of liquid, introducing a central stream of gas in direct opposition to the stream of liquid, whereby the streams of gas and liquid impinge and the liquid is atomized; passing the atomized liquid from the chamber-{through the outer gas streams and turbulating the mixture within the chamber prior to removal therefrom.

3. A method of finely divldingliquid comprising introducing a stream of liquid into a closed chamber, directing gas in divergent streams having a common central axis in general opposition to the direction of flow of the liquid stream, introducing a central jet of gas into the chamber in direct opposition to the stream of liquid, cona, fog-like or colloidal spray, and directing the colloidal spray from the chamber through the divergent streams of incoming gas.

4. A device for finely dividing fuel comprising a spray head having opposed walls enclosing a mixing chamber, a source of gas under pressure and a liquid supply, means for directing in divergent streams gas from said source through one of the walls into said chamber, and means for directing liquid in a generally opposite direction through the other wall of the chamber, means for introducing into the chamber a cenfuel inlet wall members the mixing chamber including a tral stream of gas in direct opposition to the liquid stream whereby said gas and liquid impinge and the liquid is atomized, said chamber having exit orifices located in the gas inlet wall peripherally thereof whereby the atomized liquid passes through the outer gas streams to escape from the chamber.

5. A device of the class described comprising a housing enclosing an air chamber, a liquid fuel reservoir, a spray head having opposed walls enclosing a mixing chamber, said spray head having a centrally disposed passage in one wall thereof leading from the fuel reservoir into the mixing chamber, the other wall having a plurality of air passages leading from the air chamber into central inlet in direct opposition to the fuel .inlet, means for supplying air and fuel under pressure through said inlets whereby a portion at least of the air and fuel impinge and the fuel is atomized, the air inlet wall having a plurality of peripherally arranged exit orifices for atomized fuel leading from the mixing chamber.

6. A device for atomizing liquid fuel comprising a spray head having opposed gas inlet and enclosing a mixing chamber, an inlet passage located approximately centrally of the fuel inlet wall member, means for supplying a stream of liquid fuel under pressure to said chamber through said central inlet, means for supplying a stream of gas under pressure to said chamber through the opposite wall member in direct opposition to the stream of liquid fuel wherebysaid gas and liquid fuel impinge and the liquid fuel is atomized, and peripherally disposed outlet passages in the gas inlet wall member. a

7. A device for atomizing liquid fuel comprising a spray head having opposed wall portions forming a closed mixing chamber, means for supplying a stream of liquid fuel under pressure to such chamber through an inlet in one wall of the spray head in one direction, means for supplying a stream of gas under pressure to the chamber through the opposed wall portion of the spray head in direct opposition to the flow of liquid fuel whereby the streams of gas and liquid fuel impinge and the liquid is atomized, and outlet passages'for atomized liquid fuel located within the wall portion of the head opposite the fuel inlet and radially offset in said wall portion relative to the fuel inlet.

8. A device of the character described comprising a spray head having opposed wall portions forming a closed mixing chamber, a liquid fuel inlet extending through one wall of said head and gas inlets extending through the opposite wall of said head, means for supplying liquid fuel and gas under pressure to the chamber through the respective liquid and gas inlets whereby a portion at least of the gas and liquid impinge and the liquid is atomized, and outlet passages for the atomized liquid fuel extending through the gas inlet wall and radially offset in said wall portion relative to the fuel inlet.

9. A device for finely dividing liquid fuel comprising a source of gas under pressure, a fuel supply, a spray head having opposed walls forming a, mixing chamber for the gas and fuel, one wall having a fuel inlet passage leading into the chamber from the fuel supply, the opposite wall having a gas inlet passage leading into the chamthe atomized liquid.

DELPHIS C. BREAULT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 385,653 Wright July 3, 1888 514,952 Merrlfleld Feb. 20, 1894 624,682 Ranson et al.- May 9, 1899 674,833 Bockel May 21, 1901 791,617 Fesler 'June 6, 1905 861,662 Lassoe et al July 30, 1907 1,053,292 Jones Feb. 18, 1913 Number 1,417,819 1,423,650 1,427,910 1,462,395 1,490,238 1,519,027 1,594,641 1,625,997 10 1,950,212

Number 6 Name Date Fuetter May 30, 1922 Decuir July 25, 1922 Quinn Sept. 5, 1922 Thompson July 17, 1923 Sullivan Apr. 15, 1924 Garda. Dec, 9, 1924 Starr Aug. 3, 1926 Gronkwlst Sept. 26, 1927 Barnett, et a1 Mar. 6, 1934 Bashor Jan. 7, 1936 Houlis May 26, 1936 Bilde Dec. 14, 1937 Haas Aug. 13, 1940 Neale et al. Dec. 31, 1940 Fisher- May 20, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great Britain Oct. 7, 1926 

